888-508-0107

Got a call saying that I was in serious trouble with the law and could be arrested unless I called this number.

Keep getting calls from these fake numbers. This time it was from a "Franklin Benjamin". Last times it was a "Tony Foster". This is a scam.

Charlie King from the IRS saying my wife needed to call back immediately before it's too late.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country.  We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves.  Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail
Other characteristics of this scam include:
Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov.  Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.  This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.

More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam

scam caller just [***] them.or record his voice and post it on inter media.

I RESIDE IN SO. CALIF I RECEIVED A THREATENING PHONE CALL FROM A "FRANKLIN BENJAMIN" FROM FEDERAL  SECURITIES BUREAU DEPT. TAXATION RE:RED FLAGGED FOR TAX EVASION.  CALLER ID #347 5590378 WHICH WOULD NOT RECEIVE A CALL BACK/ BUT  GAVE 888 5080107 TO CALL BACK ON. THEY WERE THREATENING & I TOLD 'EM TO CONTACT MY TAX MAN. THEY TOLD ME THEN I WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE POLICE IN 1/2 HR. AND HUNG UP ON ME.  i REPORTED 'EM TO THE SHERIFF DEPT. & THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL 800 3664484.  BEWARE OF THIS SCAM!!! (THEY HAD MY CORRECT NAME-)

Report these calls Here:

IRS:   http://www.irs.gov/
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing
phishing@irs.gov
http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-8c2f64bf2b91fa5/irs-warns-of-telephone-scam

•If you owe federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.
•If you don’t owe taxes, call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
•You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov. Add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments in your complaint.

Received a call from a franklin benjamin stating someone owed money in our household. the name was unclear. sounded like and automated robot-like voicemail. Benjamin Franklin would rise from his grave and attack this guy for using his name. One of his quotes is the only thing certain is death and taxes. just a factoid. Point is the coincidence in the Federal Securities Bureau's agent's name. LOL

Message and tip to the scammers: Give it up. You got no live bait. You'll do better jumping into a pool of piranhas.